Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-09-02
NE KILLED HER FATHER.
A SOUTHERN GIRL WHOSE GREAT.
EST BENEFACTOR WAS THE
MAN WHO ORPHANED HER.

A SOUTHERN GIRL WHOSE GREAT
EST BENEFACToR WAS THE
MAN WHO ORPHANED HER.
EDGEFIELD, s. g., Aug. o.
The death of Col. w. r. Smith,
which took place in New York a
few weeks since, has brought to
light a very remarkable incident.
Miss Rhett Myron, the principal
figure in the drama, is a personal
friend of your correspondent, and
from her the following facts have
been obtained, with permission for
their publication.
Hayne Myron, the father of this
young lady, was planter in South
Carolina. His home was a typical
Southern home, spacious and hospi.
table, surrounded by broad acres
and faithful slaves. His family
consisted of his wife and Rhett,
who was then a little child, and
the idol of her father, as well as
the pet of the plantation. At the
breaking out of the war, in the
Fall of 1861, Hayne Myron joined
a volunteer South Carolina regi.
meht.
Before leaving home he had a
picture of his little girl, painted in
miniature and incased it in "A locket
that he placed next to his heart,
saying: "My darling, this will be
papa's shield when he is in danger,
and his sunshine when he rests :"
and with eyes filed with tears, he
smothered the face and sunny
head of his child with farewell
kisses and hurried away from his
peaceful home out to the world of
danger. Six months later, in a
skirmlsh in Virginia, Hayne My
ron was killed, in close combat, by
a Federal officer. Only a few
words were sent to the old home to
tell the sad story.
During General Sherman's inva-
sion into South Carolina the Ny
ron homestead was Destroyed
The widow and daughter continued
to live on the plantation in an out.
building, supported from the rents
from the lands. Two years ago
Mrs. Myron died, and through the
influence of a friend, Miss Myron
obtained a position as governess in
the family of Colonel U. r. Smith
of New York. She stated to me
that her first meeting with Colonel
Smith was peculiar. That when
his wife introduced her to him say
ing, "This is our new gOvernnss
from South Carolina, Miss Rh'ett
Myron," his face became deathly
white, and he gave a sudden start.
(He was absent from home when
Mrs. Smith engaged her.) lie
mechanically shook hands with her
and tried to speak, but his lips
seemed sealed. But later his man
ner changed to kindness and cor
diality, and she was treated more
as an honored guest that a salaried
teacher.
lie insisted on paying her four
times the amount she charged for
her services, and made her duties
light. One evening she was sitting
in the family circle, telling of her
past lite down in South Carolina,
of the spacious house with its
twenty columns, of the dusky
slaves, who USED to sit her on their
shoulders, calling her their "little
queen" as they carried her through
the cotton fields that looked like
seas of snow foam. For the first
time she spoke of her father, how
handsome and sad he looked as he
went away on that dreadful last
day how he took her picture with
him, and told all he said. She
states that she was forced to stop
in the midst of her words, for
Colonel Smith turned CHASTITY pale
and left the room. 1t all seemed
strange to me then, she said, but
the meaning is plain now. Miss
Myron continued to live with Col.
Smiths family for two years. at
was a haven and a home to me-"
she said. 81 had so long toiled
and worked on our plantation,
| isolated from society and all ad-
vantages, it was like a fairy life
| had opened to me OF ease and
luxury, but my heart was almost
breaking, as | remembered all that
| had lost in those sad sweet days"
Six weeks ago Colonel Smith
was taken suddenly i'll, and when
he realized that death was inevi-
table he expressed a desire to see
Miss Myron alone. She states that
as she neared the bed of the dying
man, she saw him holding some
thing convulsively in one hand, as
he extended the other to her and ex'
claimed: "Rhett Myron, forgive
me before | die, without your par
don | cannot die, come close and
listen to what | have to tell you.-
1t was who made you an orphan,
my hands are red with your fathers
blood. Take this" he said, hand
ing me the package; 81 found il
on his dying breast. 1t is your
face; your name and his name are
upon it. Take it and forgive one
who has tried to expiate the wrong
done you. Oh can you forgive
dying man ~ and the voice became
faint and low. ooh! sir, you boil
were soldiers; | freely forgive,
and the poor girl, who could say
no more, fell unconscious upon thu
6oor. "Thank God," he murmured
and all was over. When Rhet
Myron recovered, the man wit
had killed her father, and who wa
later the best friend she ever knew
was dead. In his will he Dequeathet
+ to her the generous sum of $4,000
He also left a letter giving all tn
particulars of her fathers DEATH
Only a few days ago l saw tn
, picture-a sweet child face, in a
, azure cloud, and on the little plus
; case were marks of blood. This !
, certainly the most remarkable Incl
, dent it has ever been my privileg
to record.
Communicated.